Suspect in murder of Baltimore woman caught in North Carolina

Justin George, The Baltimore Sun

A U.S. Marshals task force in North Carolina arrested a Baltimore man Friday in the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old woman in the Lakeland neighborhood.

Along with Winston Salem, N.C., police, task force officers found Michael Gerald Wesley, 34, at a bus stop in Winston Salem through tips and surveillance. When they moved to make an arrest, authorities said he tried to evade capture by hiding his face and ducking into a business.

As he was heading for a back door in a business, U.S. Marshals Service officials said, deputy U.S. Marshals detained him without incident.

Wesley faces charges of first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and use of dangerous weapon with intent of causing injury, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

On March 14, Baltimore police found the body of 31-year-old Rachel Curtis lying in a pool of blood inside a home in the 2600 block of Wegworth Lane with several stab wounds to her back. Police believe Wesley, an acquaintance, killed her the day before her body was discovered, U.S. Marshals Service officials said.

Witnesses identified Wesley as a suspect, police said. U.S. Marshals Service officials said Wesley allegedly set fire to a vehicle to try and destroy evidence that may have tied him to the murder.

Baltimore police had asked the public for help locating Wesley this week. They said he had an extensive history of domestic violence related charges and was known to frequent the Edmondson Village area of South Baltimore. It was not known whether Wesley had retained an attorney, as he remained in federal custody Friday afternoon.